Series 7 & Pre-Aspheric 35mm Summilux

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Leica Photography : One Thread

I have been an avid reader of this site for around six months and have really learned a lot about my M3. This is the first time I have posted a question to this group. (...are you as nervous as I am?)

I have a 1954 M3 and a Midland pre-aspheric 35mm Summilux f/1.4 (black andonized finish with bug eye attachment). After researching the filter size for this lens I discovered it requires a Series 7 lens hood which accommodates a filter. Does anybody have any more information about this type of hood / filter system (e.g. Is the filter a gel that you stick in the lens hood?). I’m asking this question because sometimes I would like to use a UV filter when I’m shooting. Also I looked all over the Net and I cannot seem to find one for sale or even in existence. Does anybody know where to look or how much it costs?...or perhaps a substitute third party hood / filter system. Thanks.

Sincerely

Erik Loponen

-- Erik Loponen (eloponen@hotmail.com), July 03, 2001

Answers

Erik,

(As I have learned here), the filter is glass, and it fits in the middle of your lens hood, which unscrews.

Try: www.leicagallery.com or B&H. They have a Leica Series 7 that is about 70 bucks or so....

-- Steve Hoffman (shoffman2@socal.rr.com), July 03, 2001.


A "Series" filter looks just like any glass screw-on filter, except the Series filter doesn't have any threads. The idea (40-50 years ago) was to use lens adapters for "interchangeable" filters, avoiding carrying around 39mm filters and 46mm filters and 55mm filters and 60mm filters. etc.

The adapters usually came in the form of 2-piece rings or hoods. Unscrew the ring/hood, drop in the filter, screw back togther, and fix to the lens (slip on, bayonette on, clip on, etc).

Series filters come in sizes designated by Roman Numerals - e.g. Series IV, Series V, Series VI, Series VII - larger diamater as you go up numerically. Major fiter manufacturers still make them - B+W, etc.

The pre-ASPH 35mm Summilux came in 2 versions. Prior to 1966 serial # 2166701, hood OLLUX (12522) was used, with 41mm screw-in filters. From # 2166701 on 2-piece hood 12504 and Series VII filters were used. When the ASPH lens came out, Leica went back to screw-in filters again, this time at 46mm.

Check your lens serial number, Erik. The right hood can be found on eBay from time to time.

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), July 03, 2001.


Hey Erik, this is the first time I've ever contributed an answer!

I too have an M3 and a black Summilux with eyes. Consider yourself lucky, as there were only about 11,000 of these lenses made for almost a quarter million M3's! And IMHO the Summilux is one of the best (and longest lasting) Leitz designs. Plus it focuses closer on the M3! Incredible aesthetically AND optically!

Although I own the lens hood 12504 and the Leitz Series VII UV filter, I can tell you its an over-rated experience. The lens hood screws apart and the filter is placed inside. Not bad, but if you use lots of different filters, this could become quite tedious.

I use the shade most of the time (especially at 1.4), but the UV filter almost never goes inside. The front element of the Summilux has a great coating and despite use and abuse over the years, the front element of mine still looks like new!

So my advise? Pick up a lens shade on Ebay, and don't worry about the UV filter. Or let me know if you just can't live without it and I'll sell you mine! Just one view...

-- Carlin Mayer (carlinm@abac.com), July 04, 2001.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ